Steering wheel tray for using portable computer in vehicle

ABSTRACT

A machine washable and compactly foldable steering wheel tray of one-piece construction that is robust enough for use with a personal computer in a motor vehicle at rest includes pivotally articulated back and bottom panels and outside and inside pockets respectively for steering wheel mounting and holding items ancillary to at rest computer use whether for business or pleasure. It is of durable, double-walled construction and is easily and readily fabricated of flexible sheet material such as rip-stop nylon by cutting and threadably joining the sheets of flexible material.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is drawn to the field of vehicle supported horizontalplanar structures, and more particularly, to a steering wheel tray forusing a portable computer in a motor vehicle at rest.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Two types of food or computer or work trays for use in motor vehiclesare known. One type is mounted to the steering wheel while parked, suchas the food trays of U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,026 to Seibert, U.S. Pat. Nos.6,412,425 and 6,192,806 to Chen, and GB 2,144,627 to Judge; or thecomputer or other secure holding trays of U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,738 toRichter and U.S. Pat. No. 6,494,148 to Mullaney; or the book holders ofthe U.S. Pat. No. 7,017,878 to Guo and JP11151125 to Keiji; or thesteering wheel mountable clipboard of U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,805 toDouglas. Reference in this connection may also be had to U.S. Pat. No.5,413,035 to Fernandez, U.S. Pat. No. 3,643,606 to Vise, U.S. Pat. No.2,244,861 to Walker, Sr., US Patent Application PublicationUS2004/0094677 to Guo, U.S. Pat. No. 4,749,161 to Falcone, U.S. Pat. No.4,890,559 to Martin, U.S. Pat. No. 6,408,769 to Lewis, U.S. Pat. No.6,305,300 to Honea, U.S. Pat. No. 1,900,325 to Baymen, and JP2004345623to Susumu. The other type of food or computer or work trays for use inmotor vehicles are mounted or supported by surfaces or structures in thevehicle other than the steering wheel, such as the rear seat food trayof GB 2,144,627 to Judge or the folding table of U.S. Pat. No. 1,549,957to Belden.

However, the prior art devices that have been robust enough to support apersonal computer from the steering wheel have been comparativelycomplex in construction, expensive to manufacture, subject tomalfunction, difficult to repair due to their complexity, not readilystorable when not in use, and/or not readily washable so that they werenot sufficiently sanitary for use with foodstuffs; while the heretoforeknown food trays were too fragile to reliably support a personalcomputer from the steering wheel, too small to accept a personalcomputer, were not readily storable, were expensive to manufacture,and/or have been not readily washable. There therefore is a need for asteering wheel tray for using a portable computer in a motor vehiclewhile parked that is not subject to the disadvantages of the heretoforeknown food, computer or work trays.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It accordingly is one object of the present invention to disclose asteering wheel tray for use with a personal computer in a motor vehicleat rest that is sanitary, because machine washable, and that preferablyis constructed of rip-stop nylon or other flexible, machine washablesheet material.

It is another object of the present invention to disclose a steeringwheel tray for use with a personal computer in a motor vehicle that issturdy, because of a one-piece construction that provides the strengthand the reliability to support the comparatively heavy weight and/orlarge size of some personal computers, while accommodating itemsancillary to the use of the computer in the vehicle, such as writingpaper and/or writing instruments, when used for business purposes; orgame CDs etc., when used for pleasure. Of course, it may also be usedwith napkins or straws etc., when the tray is used while eating ordrinking.

It is a further object of the present invention to disclose a steeringwheel tray for use with a personal computer in a vehicle that is low incost and easy to manufacture, because comparatively simple, thatpreferably is constructed of precut sheets of threadably joined flexiblematerial.

It is yet another object to disclose a steering wheel tray for apersonal computer in a motor vehicle that is foldable, preferablyoccupying the space of a small attache case, that thereby is easy tostore in the vehicle when not in use and ready to deploy if and asneeded, whether for business or pleasure.

In accord with these and other objects, the steering wheel tray for usewith a personal computer in a motor vehicle at rest of the presentinvention includes back and bottom panels and a linear hingearticulating said back and bottom panels for pivoting motion between acompact closed position, where said panels lie over each other in agenerally parallel relation occupying the space of a small attache case,and an open use position, where said panels define a generally right oroblique angle, such that said bottom panel is in a generally horizontalorientation whenever the back panel is steering wheel mounted. In theopen use position, the steering wheel tilt may be adjusted to adjust theangle of the bottom panel when mounted to the steering wheel.

The back panel includes threadably joined, precut sheets of flexiblematerial arranged to provide a rearwardly and downwardly opening pocketthat is sized to cap a motor vehicle's steering wheel. It also includesthreadably joined precut sheets of flexible sheet material arranged toprovide a forwardly and upwardly opening pocket sized to removablysupport items such as writing paper, writing instruments, portablememory devices and other items ancillary to use of the personal computerto perform work, play games or, when the tray is used to have a meal ora drink while parked, to hold straws and the like items.

The bottom panel includes threadably joined precut sheets of flexiblematerial arranged to provide a reclosable pocket adapted to receive aremovable, rigid board. A rigid board adapted to make the bottom panelrigid is removably received in the board receiving pocket thereof.

Side panels of precut flexible sheet material are threadably joined tothe sides of the back and bottom panels. The side panels are arranged tofold inwards when the back and bottom panels are in their closedposition and to support the bottom panel in said generally horizontalusage position when in open position allowing the bottom panel tosupport a personal computer when the back panel is mounted to thesteering wheel of an at rest motor vehicle. Preferably, the side panelsare of an opaque, glare reducing or eliminating material and include apower cord through hole.

Preferably, the precut sheets of flexible material of the back, bottomand side panels are of rip-stop nylon or other machine washablematerial.

Preferably, the back and bottom panels are of a durable anterior andposterior double-walled construction and all threaded seams of thethreadably joined back and bottom panels of double-walled constructionare blind seams that present an aesthetically pleasing finish.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

These and other objects, inventive aspects and advantageous features ofthe present invention will become apparent as the invention becomesbetter understood by referring to the following, solely exemplary,detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments thereof, andto the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side pictorial view showing the novel steering wheel tray ofthe present invention mounted to the steering wheel of an automobile orother motor vehicle while parked;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the steering wheel tray for using apersonal computer in a vehicle;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective of the steering wheel tray for using aportable computer in a vehicle of the present invention showing it inits open condition;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the steering wheel tray for usinga portable computer in a vehicle of the present invention in its closedcondition;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view thereof;

FIG. 6 is a top elevational view of a precut sheet of flexible sheetmaterial of the posterior wall of the double-walled back and bottompanels of the steering wheel tray for using a portable computer in avehicle of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a top elevational view of a precut sheet of flexible sheetmaterial of the anterior wall of the double-walled back panel of thesteering wheel tray for using a portable computer in a vehicle of thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 is a top elevational view of a precut sheet of flexible sheetmaterial of the downwardly and rearwardly opening outside pocket of theback panel of the steering wheel tray for using a portable computer in avehicle of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a top elevational view of a precut sheet of flexible sheetmaterial of the anterior wall of the double-walled bottom panel of thesteering wheel tray for using a portable computer in a vehicle of thepresent invention;

FIG. 10 is a top elevational view of a precut sheet of flexible sheetmaterial of the forwardly and upwardly opening inside pocket of the backpanel of the steering wheel tray for using a portable computer in avehicle of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a top elevational view of a precut sheet of flexible sheetmaterial of the side panels of the steering wheel tray for using aportable computer in a vehicle of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is a block process diagram useful in explaining the steps offabricating a steering wheel tray for using a portable computer in amotor vehicle in accord with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, generally designated at 10 is a pictorial viewshowing the novel steering wheel tray for using a portable computer in amotor vehicle at rest in accord with the present invention. The steeringwheel tray 10 of the present invention is sanitary, because itpreferably is constructed of machine washable, flexible sheet material;it is sturdy, because it preferably is of one-piece construction that iscapable of reliably supporting a personal computer and/or itemsancillary to the use thereof for business and/or pleasure; it is low incost and easy to manufacture, because it preferably is constructed bycutting and threadably joining sheets of flexible sheet material; and itis easy to store in the vehicle when not in use, because it is foldableand compact, preferably occupying the space of a small attache case.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the steering wheel tray 10 for use witha portable computer in a motor vehicle at rest of the present inventionincludes a back panel generally designated 12 and a bottom panelgenerally designated 14. The back and bottom panels 12, 14 pivot betweenopen and closed positions about a linear pivot hinge generallydesignated 16. The open use position is illustrated in the FIGS. 1, 2and 3 and the closed position is illustrated in the FIG. 4.

Side panels generally designated 18 preferably threadably attachedlaterally to the back and bottom panels 12, 14 support the bottom panel14 in a generally horizontal position when the steering wheel tray is inits open condition and the back panel 12 is mounted to the steeringwheel of a vehicle as illustrated in FIG. 1. The side panels 18 foldinwardly, as illustrated at 20 in FIG. 3, when the steering wheel tray10 is pivoted to its closed position, which is shown in FIG. 4.

The back panel 12 includes a rearwardly and downwardly opening pocketgenerally designated 22, best seen in FIG. 2, that caps the steeringwheel of the vehicle and a forwardly and upwardly opening pocketgenerally designated 24 that accepts items ancillary to computer use. Apromotional or other logo, not shown, may be provided on the pocket 24by a sponsor such as a bank or other business.

The bottom panel 14 includes a forwardly opening pocket generallydesignated 26 that removably receives a rigid board 28 (FIG. 2) that isslidably inserted therewithin to provide strength and rigidity to thebottom panel 14. Separable fasteners 30, 32, together with the proximatefree end of the bottom panel 14, define a releasable flap closure forholding the rigid board 28, best seen in FIG. 2, in the pocket 26.

A separable fastener 34 is attached to the free distal end of the backpanel 12. The fastener 34 of the free distal end of the back panel 12cooperates with a separable fastener 36 provided on the bottom panel 14to define a releaseable flap closure for holding the steering wheel tray10 in its closed condition, after the panels have been pivoted, as shownby arrow 38 in FIG. 4, to their closed position.

Referring now to FIG. 5, generally designated at 50 is an explodedperspective view of the steering wheel tray for use with a portablecomputer in a parked motor vehicle in accord with the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 7, the back panel 12 preferably is of a durable,anterior and posterior double-walled construction and includes the upperportion of precut posterior sheet 52 that is threadably attached toprecut anterior sheet 54 about their contiguous lateral and top edges.The bottom edge of the precut sheet 54 is threadably attached to theprecut sheet 52 along a seam line 56. Preferably, the height of thecontiguous portions of the sheets 52, 54 is the same as, or somewhatshorter than, the diameter of a motor vehicle's steering wheel, whichtypically is fourteen (14) inches, and are the same in width as thediameter thereof. The precut sheets 52, 54 are of a preferably machinewashable, flexible sheet material such as rip-stop nylon.

As shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 8, the rearwardly extending and downwardlyopening pocket 22 preferably is double-walled and includes precut sheet58 folded about its diameter 60 (FIG. 8) and threadably attached aboutits curved peripheral edge to the curved top of the upper portion of theprecut posterior sheet 52. It is tall enough to securely cap the exposedhead of the motor vehicle's steering wheel, and, preferably, it is fiveand one half (5.5) inches in radius.

As shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 9, the bottom panel 14 preferably isdouble-walled and includes the lower portion of precut posterior sheet52 that is threadably attached to precut anterior sheet 62 about theircontiguous lateral edges. The inside edge of the precut sheet 62 isthreadably attached to the precut sheet 52 along the seam line 56. Thesheet 62 preferably is of machine washable, flexible sheet material suchas rip-stop nylon.

As shown in FIGS. 5, 10, the forwardly and upwardly opening pocket 24preferably is double-walled and includes precut anterior sheet 64 foldedabout its midpoint 66 (FIG. 10) and threadably attached about itslateral and bottom edges to the lateral edge of the precut sheet 54, andits bottom edge to the top edge of the precut sheet to along the seamline 56. The posterior sheet 52 is threadably attached to the sheets 54,62, 64. The forwardly and upwardly opening pocket 24 is tall enough tosecurely receive items ancillary to computer use, such as a legal pad.The sheet 64 preferably is of machine washable, flexible sheet materialsuch as rip-stop nylon.

As shown in FIGS. 5, 11, the side panels 16 preferably are double-walledand include precut sheets 68 that are threadably attached about theirinside edges to the contiguous lateral edges of the sheets 52, 54, 62.Preferably, the material of the sheets 68 is opaque, so as to helpprevent glare when viewing the screen of the personal computer. Thesheets 68 are of a preferably machine washable, flexible sheet materialsuch as rip-stop nylon. One more openings generally designated 70 (FIG.11) may be provided thereinthrough to allow passage of the power cord.

With reference now to FIG. 12, generally designated at 80 is a blockprocess diagram that is useful in explaining the steps of fabricating asteering wheel tray for use with a portable computer in a motor vehicleat rest of the present invention.

As shown by a block 82, the constitutive sheets of the back, bottom andside panels and of the inside and outside pockets are cut frompreselected flexible sheet material, such as rip-stop nylon.

As shown by a block 84, the inside pocket precut sheet is sewn to theanterior sheets of both the back and bottom panels along contiguouslateral edges and at the inside corner between the anterior sheets ofthe back and bottom panels.

As shown by a block 86, the outside pocket precut sheet is sewn to theposterior sheet of the back panel to provide the outside pocket.

As shown by a block 88, each side panel gusset is sewn to respectivelateral edges of the anterior precut sheets of the back and bottompanels.

As shown by a block 90, the separable fastener is sewn to the bottomedge of the posterior precut sheet of the double walled bottom panel.

As shown by a block 92, the contiguous edges of the posterior precutback panel sheet is then sewn respectively to the outside flap precutsheet, anterior back panel precut sheet, anterior bottom panel precutsheet, interior pocket precut sheet and precut sheets of the side panelgussets. A threaded seam linear hinge is thereby provided at the insidecorner between the back and bottom panels that articulates the back andbottom panels for pivoting motion between their open and closedpositions.

As shown by a block 94, the separable fastener is sewn to the bottomedge of the anterior precut sheet of the bottom panel.

As shown by a block 96, the whole fabrication is then turned right sideout, concealing the threaded seams, and then the rigid board isremovably inserted into the pocket of the bottom panel.

Many modifications of the presently disclosed invention will becomeapparent to those of skill in the art without departing from theinventive concepts. For example, the posterior back panel sheet and theposterior bottom panel sheet can be separate precut sheets and sewntogether along the center seam articulating the panels. Pockets may beprovided on the side panels for holding cell phones and the like.Handles may be provided to the back and/or bottom panels which wouldallow the tray to be used as a case to contain the personal computer orpapers or other items when it is in its closed condition. When not inuse, it would protect the contents and the handle would allow transportof the tray that any enclosed items. Of course, it could be grasped byhand and moved without using the handle when in closed condition. It ispossible for a-through-hole to be put into the bottom panel for use as acupholder.

1. A machine washable and compactly foldable steering wheel tray ofone-piece construction for use with a personal computer in a motorvehicle at rest, comprising: back and bottom panels and a linear hingearticulating said back and bottom panels for pivoting motion between acompact closed position, where said panels lie over each other in agenerally parallel relation occupying the space of a small attache case,and an open use position, where said panels define a generally right oroblique angle such that said bottom panel is in a generally horizontalorientation whenever the back panel is steering wheel mounted; each saidback and bottom panel is of a durable, anterior and posteriordouble-walled construction and includes threadably joined anterior andposterior sheets of flexible material; a first sheet of flexiblematerial is threadably joined to said anterior sheet of said back paneland is arranged to provide a rearwardly and downwardly opening pocketthat is sized to cap a motor vehicle's steering wheel; said anterior andposterior sheets of said bottom panel of double-walled construction arearranged to provide a reclosable pocket adapted to receive a removable,rigid board that makes the bottom panel rigid when it is received in theboard receiving pocket thereof; a rigid board removably insertable insaid reclosable pocket of said bottom panel of double-walledconstruction; and side panels of precut flexible material threadablyjoined to the sides of the back and bottom panels.
 2. The steering wheeltray of claim 1, wherein said linear hinge includes a threaded seam. 3.The steering wheel tray of claim 3, wherein said sheets of flexiblematerial of the back, bottom and side panels are of machine washablematerial.
 4. The steering wheel tray of claim 3, wherein said machinewashable material is rip-stop nylon.
 5. The steering wheel tray of claim1, further including a second sheet of flexible sheet materialthreadably joined to said anterior and posterior sheets of said backpanel and arranged to provide a forwardly and upwardly opening pocketsized to removably support items such as writing paper, writinginstruments, portable memory devices and other items ancillary to use ofthe personal computer to perform work or play electronic games.
 6. Thesteering wheel tray of claim 1, wherein said side panels are arranged tofold inwards when the back and bottom panels are in their closedposition and to support the bottom panel in said generally horizontalusage position when they are in open position allowing the bottom panelto reliably support a personal computer when the back panel is mountedto the steering wheel of an at rest motor vehicle.
 7. The steering wheeltray of claim 6, wherein said flexible material of said side panels isan opaque flexible material adapted to substantially eliminate glarewhen reading the screen of the personal computer.
 8. The steering wheeltray of claim 7, further including an opening through a side paneladapted to provide a through hole for a power cord.
 9. A method offabricating a steering wheel tray for use with a personal computer in amotor vehicle at rest, comprising the steps of: cutting anterior andposterior sheets of back and bottom panels, sheets of side panel gussetsand sheets of inside and outside pockets from preselected flexible sheetmaterial; sewing the inside pocket sheet to the anterior sheets of boththe back and bottom panels along contiguous lateral edges, and at aninside corner edge; sewing the outside pocket sheet to the posteriorsheet of the back panel to provide the outside pocket; sewing each sidepanel gusset to respective lateral edges of the anterior sheets of theback and bottom panels; sewing a separable fastener onto the bottom edgeof the posterior sheet of the bottom panel; sewing the contiguous edgesof the posterior back panel sheet respectively to the outside pocketsheet, anterior back panel sheet, anterior bottom panel sheet, interiorpocket sheet and side panel gusset sheets; sewing a separable fasteneronto the bottom edge of the anterior sheet of the bottom panel; andturning the whole fabrication right side out to conceal the threadedseams.